Hundreds take to the streets on climate strike day in Switzerland
Published: Friday, Apr 19th 2024, 20:00
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Hundreds of activists took to the streets in five Swiss cities on Friday to protest against fossil fuel infrastructure and investments in climate-damaging products. The demonstrations took place as part of the international climate strike.
Despite the rain, 5,000 people took part in the authorized rallies for global climate justice in Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Aarau and Sion, the Climate Strike movement announced in the evening. They particularly denounced Switzerland's financing of fossil fuel infrastructure and its colonial power structures.
According to the city police's dialog team, around 600 people gathered for the demonstration in Zurich. They marched peacefully from Helvetiaplatz to Paradeplatz and back. The climate seniors were among many young people, as a reporter from Keystone-SDA observed on site. Traffic in the city center was considerably disrupted, according to the public transport company.
In Bern, around 1,200 people flocked to a parade through the old town. A band played at the final rally on the Bundesplatz. In Lucerne, around 60 people circumnavigated the city on their bikes, also taking routes that are critical for bicycles. Lucerne cantonal councillor and co-president of Pro Velo Luzern, Korintha Bärtsch, criticized the fact that the promotion of cycling in Lucerne still has too little importance.
Inactive politics
Politicians are not in a position to take the necessary climate protection measures, according to the Climate Strike Bern. This is despite the fact that the consequences of global warming are becoming increasingly noticeable, particularly in the global South. Worldwide, forest fires, floods, droughts and other natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more devastating.
In Switzerland, too, there is no end in sight to the fossil age. Despite a decision by the Federal Administrative Court against the reserve power plant in Birr AG, the Federal Council wants to build another fossil reserve power plant. This is "an act of irresponsibility". We need an end to fossil fuels and a socially just energy transition.
In addition, the banks continued to pump money into "destructive fossil fuel projects", thereby fueling the climate crisis. By financing existing and planned fossil fuel infrastructure abroad, the Swiss financial center causes 20 times more emissions than the whole of Switzerland.
©Keystone/SDA
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